Clasp.



No. sa|,oaa. Patented Aug. 20, mm. .1. u. WATT & J. A. wane.

CLASP.

(Application am m 1, 190;.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES N. VATT AND JOSEPH A. WVHITE, OF PENDLETON, OREGON.

CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 681,088, dated August 20, 1901.

Application filed May 1, 1901. Serial No. 58,308. (No model.)

To [tZZ 1071/0722 it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES N. WATT and Josnrn A. WHITE, citizens of the United States, and residents of Pendleton, in the county of Umatilla and State of Oregon, have invented a new and Improved Clasp, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a clasp adapted for use in connection with all kinds of apparel. It is especially useful for fastening mens suspenders to trousers, since it comprises two jaws which are not necessarily serrated or toothed,these jaws being moved into gripping position by the positive action of a cam held in active position by the strain on the clasp.

This specification is a specific description of one form of the invention, while the claims are definitions of the actual scope thereof.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a front view of the clasp, showing it in use in connection with suspenders. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 is a developed view of the blank, which is formed, preferably, of stamped metal and utilized as the framing of the clasp. Fig. at is a detail view showing the cam and the means provided for the adjustment thereof. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective View of one of the jaws and the parts appurtenant thereto, and Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the side of the clasp opposite that shown in Fig. 1.

0, indicates the body of the clamp, which has the jaw 1) formed thereon, the body being in the form of a casing and the jaw 1) projecting from this casing.

0 indicates the companion jaw,which is pivotally mounted on the shank of the jaw b at the point cl. These jaws o and b may, if desired, be formed with marginal flanges b and e, such flanges serving to engage the cloth. Fitted in the body or casing 01. is a pin g, this pin passing transversely through the body and carrying pivotally the hanger c, which is provided with a suitable clampfor other device for attaching it to the suspender or such article in connection with which the clasp may be used. Mounted loosely on the pin g and lying directly against the hanger e is a disk 71, which has at one side a peripheral cam h, standing perpendicular to the plane of the disk. The disk h has at the opposite side teeth 72, These teeth are adapted to work with a pawl e, which is carried on and preferably struck up from the hanger e, the point of the pawl engaging the teeth and being turned laterally, as indicated in Fig. 6, such laterally-turned end projecting into engagement with the arc-shaped edge a of the body a. This edge a terminates in shoulders to, which limit the movement of the hanger c on the body.

The jaw c is formed on its shank with a spring-finger 0 which projects into the body and bears against the same, said finger tending to throw the jaw into open position. The shank of the jaw c is also formed with an inwardly-projecting stud c whereon rides the cam 7L. As the hanger e is thrown to a position placing it in aliuement with the jaws the cam It acts on. the stud c and throws the jaw 0 toward the jaw Z), contrary to the tendency of the spring-finger 0 As the hanger c is thrown downward to approximately right angles to the line of the jaws b and c the cam h rides off of the projection c and the springfinger c is permitted to throw the jaw c to open position. Now it will be seen that the clasp may readily be opened by throwing down the hanger e and that the instant strain is placed on the clasp the hanger will return to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and will cause the jaws to be closed and will hold them in such adjustment. Owing to the arrangement of the disk 71, with the teeth It thereon, and the pawl c, acting with these teeth, the disk may readily be placed in any position desired with respect to the pawl, thus adj usting the position of the cam h and regulating the throw of the jaw c.

If it be desired to use the clasp in connection with a stout fabric, the disk It may be adjusted to cause the jaw c to move toward yet not into engagement with the jaw b, and if the clasp is to be used in connection with a light thin fabric the cam may be adjusted to cause the jaws to move into actual contact with each other.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A clasp, comprising a pair ofjaws pivotally connected together, a cam for actuating said jaws, a lever for actuating said cam, said lever being provided with a pawl for adjusting said cam.

2. A clasp, comprising a body portion, jaws carried thereby, a cam mounted in the body portion and working against one of the jaws, a hanger movablymounted on the body portion, and an adjustable connection between the cam and the hanger.

3. A clasp, comprising a body, jaws mounted thereon, a disk mounted in the body and having a cam working against one of the jaws and also having a toothed portion, a hanger movably mounted on the body, and a pawl carried by the hanger and ad j ustabl y engaged with the teeth of the disk.

two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES N. WATT. v JOSEPH A. WHITE.

Witnesses:

JOHN PALMER, ALEXANDER WATT.

names to this specification in the presence of 30 

